KAGERA: A RESIDENT of Bunazi Village in Missenyi District Fadhir Shaban has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for raping a 14-year-old girl. The incident occurred in 2023.
Prosecuting State Attorney Amon Lutalibatwa told the court during hearing of the case that in February, last year the parents of the child who are residing in Karagwe District brought the child to the convict’s residence for treatment and left her in his care.
However, Shaban repeatedly raped the child. Missenyi District Magistrate Yohana Miyombo found Shaban guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
In his ruling, he condemned the heinous act, emphasising that a severe sentence was necessary to deter others from committing similar crimes.
Meanwhile, an 18-year-old Verius Marco from Kiteme village in Muleba District has been sentenced to 30 years imprisonment for raping a 12-year-old girl.
Muleba District Magistrate Lilian Mwambeleko explained that the prosecution side proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt. In a related development, a 63-year-old Hassan Ayoub alias Dr Rubai from Miembeni Ward in Bukoba Municipality was on Wednesday arraigned in court for allegedly raping a 12-year-old child.
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Prosecuting State Attorney Matilda Assey told the court that the accused committed the offence on diverse dates between December, last year to September, this year at his residence in Miembeni Ward.
Ten witnesses have been listed to testify for the Republic. Bukoba Resident Magistrate Andrew Kabuka adjourned the Criminal Case No 30251/2024 until November 6th, this year for hearing.
The arraignment and convictions come amidst growing concerns about the alarming rise in sexual violence against children in Tanzania. From January to September 30th this year, Kagera police reported a total of 533 cases related to gender-based violence.
Head of the Gender Desk at the Kagera Regional Police Station, Assistant Inspector of Police Suzan Kamwaga noted that approximately 230 of these cases were specifically related to rape.
“Tanzania has one of the youngest populations in the world and we are witnessing a troubling increase in gender-based violence. To tackle these challenges, we need concerted efforts from all stakeholders to address violence against children,” she said.
